The Flash Will Introduce Powers to the Arrow Universe

Earlier today, The CW revealed plans to create a spinoff series for The Flash after unveiling the character on Arrow this coming season. “We'll introduce a recurring character [on Arrow] and an origin story for Dr. Barry Allen, who you know as The Flash." said CW president Mark Pedowitz in his initial address during the TCA (Television Critics Association) press tour.

Arrow co-creators/executive producers Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg will work with DC Entertainment's Geoff Johns to bring the Scarlet Speedster to life, with the trio set to co-write each of the scripts that the character will appear in this season. Allen will be a presence in the 8th, 9th and 20th episodes of Arrow, with the 20th acting as a backdoor pilot. The pilot will be directed by Game of Thrones Red Wedding/"The Rains of Castamere" helmer, and vetran TV director, David Nutter - whose many pilots include Smallville and Arrow. Casting is now underway. In fact, the announcement was made in part to allow The CW to widen the net to a far larger range of potential Barry Allens.

As expected, the revelation sparked a bevy of questions about what The Flash's introduction in Arrow meant for the character's possible inclusion in the DC cinematic universe, as well as The CW's plans for the Wonder Woman series that had been in development. (You can take a look at Pedowitz's responses here.)

Powers In Starling City:

“Part of the hope with Barry is to start to introduce powers into our universe,” Berlanti told us today when asked if, as we imagine, The Flash would mark the first wave of actual superpowers on Arrow. Johns and Kreisberg were on hand for a conference call this afternoon where they confirmed that there would be no workaround; and that the character would retain his superhuman abilities. "He does need powers; and he will be The Flash," assured Johns.

The Origin of The Flash - Arrow-Style:

The network's adaptation of Dr. Barry Allen's saga will be an origin story in a similar vein to Oliver Queen/Arrow's, though seemingly with a more linear narrative. "When we first meet Barry Allen, he's just a forensic scientist, an ordinary man," Kreisberg said. "As we always do on Arrow, we keep things as grounded and realistic as possible. That's the way the audience can be introduced to him and get to know him; and then life gets a little faster."

The producers were reticent to indicate exactly how he attains his super-speedy abilities, but we do know that Allen will be in Starling City in his first two episodes, where we imagine the inciting incident takes place, and in "his own world" for the 20th.

"Part of the fun for the audience is to see how we do our Arrow take on the Flash legacy," Kreisberg continued. "Some of it will feel very familiar to DC Comics, some of it hopefully will feel different, fresh and exciting. The same way we approached Arrow is the same way we're approaching Barry."

Will Other Characters Gain Superpowers?:

Does the introduction of The Flash indicate that superpowers are going to become a part of the reality on Arrow in a larger context? "We look at it like when he [The Flash] first appeared, he ushered in a silver age for DC superheros," said Johns. "In the same way he's going to usher in some new and pretty insane concepts to the Arrow world, but like Andrew said, it's in a very Arrow way."

"Our characters that you have come to know and like will respond to the extraordinary changes in their world in a very realistic way. These 'powers' will not be commonplace, they will be extraordinary events, and the world, and our characters in them, will react accordingly." Kreisberg said, emphasizing that Arrow would maintain its established tone.

The Flash Is A Good Counter To Arrow:

Aside from the fact that The Flash is a favorite among all three producers, the character was selected as the next featured DC character in the CW programming line-up because, as Kreisberg says, "Despite the fact that he has superpowers, there's something more relatable about Barry among the Big Seven of the Justice League. He got his powers by accident; he's not a god, he's not an alien, they came to him by accident, his reactions to that feel very human and grounded."

Additionally, the producers feel that Barry and Oliver stand in stark contrast to one another and will, as such, create an interesting counterbalance.

"Oliver Queen is a very dark and tortured soul and Barry is not," Kreisberg said, stressing the profound impact that Allen would have on the Arrow universe. "He's a great character who is going to affect all of our characters lives. It will be fun to see these two characters together because they have two different worlds... As much as Oliver now thinks he's a hero, Barry isn't always going to believe that."

"We're also exploring a very personal story for Barry," Johns said. "His life as a forensic scientist and the people around him, the tragedies and how he deals with them in a very different way than Oliver Queen." Though Flash will have a significant impact on the people of Starling City, the producers did say that the intention was to "add" to Arrow, not "subtract." Read: it's unlikely that previously established Arrow characters will be making the transition to the new series.

The Look And The Casting:

The team isn't thinking about things like costumes or the specifics of how The Flash's abilities will be rendered on the show just yet; but the producers do promise that it will "very different, and not just blurring around." They are excited to "bring something fresh, new, and exiting" forward, something "people have never seen." Johns said that he was inspired by every incarnation of Flash, but did call out the Justice League: Flash Point Paradox animated film as having some stunning depictions of superspeed which he hoped to incorporate into the live-action series.

As far as what they are seeking out in terms of the casting, Johns joked, "Someone who looks good in red." Kreisberg laughingly added, "blond is preferred," closing out by stressing that there would be "no sweat suits or strange code names. He will be The Flash."

Roth Cornet is an Entertainment Editor for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @RothCornet and IGN at Roth-IGN.